Bihar presents Rs 1.6 lakh cr budget; focus on education, rural development

Prohibition and demonetisation forced the govt to cut its projected spending on crucial departments

Keeping its focus on education, rural development, power and road construction, the Nitish Kumar led Grand Alliance government in Bihar presented an estimated budget (2017-18) of Rs. 1.60 lakh crore budget - projected 10 per cent higher the current fiscal year.

The budget was presented by Finance Minister Abdul Bari Siddiqui on Monday in state legislature during the post lunch session. The state government has not introduced any fresh taxes because of the expected Goods and Services Tax (GST). "The central government has assured us that the GST will be rolled out very soon. Therefore, we have decided not to infringe